Powersoft X Series amps will “work everywhere”

Four years in development and promising “unmatched levels of versatility, flexibility and power”, the Powersoft X Series power amplifiers make their debut at Frankfurt today, Wednesday.

Under the slogan ‘Everything evolves from the source’, the X Series represents “a system tool that integrates a large amount of functionality, generally only found in separate outboard units," says Italy's Powersoft. “This includes an innovative system of channel routing, a truly universal power supply and a revolutionary fully-featured DSP.”

This power supply has worldwide AC acceptance and allows direct connection to any regional power line configuration: it can handle Single Phase, Bi-Phase or Three Phase operation from 85V AC up to 440V AC without the need for manual selection.

Put in a more practical way by the Powersoft team in its X Series preview presentation, held for 80 dealers and distributors at the company’s Scandicci HQ two days before Prolight + Sound: “It Works Everywhere”.

There are two models at launch time: the X8 sports eight channels in a 2U chassis, while the 1U X4 (shown here) features four channels. Both amps share the same power density, being capable of delivering up to a reported 5,200W @ 2 ohms per channel.

“There is nothing at this level with this power, on all channels and per channel – nothing,” stated Luca Giorgi, pro-audio business unit director for Powersoft at the presentation.

The X Series natively supports AES3, two redundant Dante digital streams, and analogue inputs, providing up to four different selectable input sources per channel.

While the strikingly stylish design – a symmetrical of LED lights on an elliptical fascia plate – suggests fixed installations only, Powersoft says the X8 and X4 are built for concert touring too, and for both low and high impedance applications. Set-up parameters for the X Series are fully integrated into Armonía Pro Audio Suite for comprehensive control and parameter adjustment. An integrated WiFi connection will permit the amps to be accessed and managed via any smartphone or tablet through a user interface currently being developed.

“Our sights have been fixed firmly on the future during the design of the X Series,” states Claudio Lastrucci, Powersoft R&D director, “We looked at what we believe amplifiers will require for the next 10 years and made a platform capable of meeting these needs as well as building in a certain level of ‘future proof’ expandability.”

The X8 will ship in May 2014, the X4 in June.

In 2015, Powersoft X Series will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the creation of the keystone K Series amplifiers, which introduced Power Factor Correction (PFC) and switch-mode amplification to the professional audio industry.

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